A　comparative　study　was　conducted　to　determine　the　effects　of　graphene　and　carbon　nanotubes　on　the　thermo-mechanical　properties　of　asphalt　binder　using　molecular　simulations　and　experiments.　Micro-morphology　of　graphene　and　carbon　nanotubes　was　measured　by　scanning　electron　microscopy.　Thermal　stability　and　glass　transition　temperature　were　investigated　by　differential　scanning　calorimeter.　Simulation　results　indicated　that　the　Tg　had　slightly　changed　for　graphene-modified　asphalt　(GMA)　and　carbon　nanotubes-modified　asphalt　(CNsMA)　and　that　the　thermal　expansion　coefficients　and　thermal　conductivity　increased　along　with　the　adding　amount　of　graphene　or　carbon　nanotubes.　The　Tg　calculated　by　density–temperature　method　was　closer　than　the　experimental　Tg　and　the　Tg　decreased　in　the　order　of　CNsMA,　GMA　and　asphalt.　Young’s　modulus　of　asphalt,　GMA　and　CNsMA　were　9.2658,　25.7563　and　17.8249　GPa　at　298 K,　respectively,　which　indicated　that　thermo-mechanical　properties　of　asphalt　showed　considerable　improvements　after　the　addition　of　graphene　or　carbon　nanotubes,　and　carbon　nanotubes-modified　asphalt　and　GMA　were　promising　candidates　for　the　future　modified　asphalt.　©　2017　Informa　UK　Limited,　trading　as　Taylor　&　Francis　Group.